New PC. Advice for Smiss and I.

[norbs]

So, I have been offered some up front cash to help a local company do some rendering.

A few things need to happen first.

This is what I am potentially selling to Smithcorp.

Intel i7 @3.2ghz and Noctua DNH-D14 CPU cooler
12G RAM
nVidia Geforce GTX 590
Asus P6T Deluxe V2 motherboard.

He is going to post his set up below and I was hoping you blokes will let him know if the upgrade is worthwhile. Please, be brutally honest.

Next, spec up a set of components to replace that with.

I will have about $1200 to play with. I need CPU and cooler, Video card (970 I think), motherboard and RAM (16G) .

How would something like this go compared to what I have now?

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/tNLqWZ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Get to it nerds of ARSE.

[smithcorp]

And this is what I have:

Intel i5 - 2500k @3.3 GHz (6mb cache)
Nvidia GTX560 (1024mb)
8Gb RAM (1333MHz, DDR3)
Asus P8z68 Mobo

[Righteous]

So what's happening with PSU's? The 590 is power hungry, you need 2 8pin connectors I believe.

What have you got Smiss for a PSU?

The 590 would be a decent jump over what you have. CPU is negligible.

He's probably got enough RAM.

Best way to do it is for both of you to run a benchmark somehow.

Run the same settings in something you both have and let Smiss decide.

[Duke]

Smith, my honest opinion is you just need a decent GFX card. A GTX560 won't cut the mustard running new games/sims like AC etc.
I don't think norbs stuff would help you much regardless of it being an i7, as it's all older tech than the i5 2500K. Sorry norbs.

[norbs]

So what's happening with PSU's? The 590 is power hungry, you need 2 8pin connectors I believe.

What have you got Smiss for a PSU?

The 590 would be a decent jump over what you have. CPU is negligible.

He's probably got enough RAM.

Best way to do it is for both of you to run a benchmark somehow.

Run the same settings in something you both have and let Smiss decide.

Great idea. Is there a sort of de facto standard these days?

[norbs]

Smith, my honest opinion is you just need a decent GFX card. A GTX560 won't cut the mustard running new games/sims like AC etc.
I don't think norbs stuff would help you much regardless of it being an i7, as it's all older tech than the i5 2500K. Sorry norbs.

No need to apologise. I dont want to rip off a mate.

Like I said on the phone Duke, it isn't something that has to happen. Rebuilding a PC used to get my man parts tingly. These days, it is a waste of a few hours.

[smithcorp]

Here's my PSU: HIPRO HP-D6301AW Combination true power : 630w ATX PSU, Peak Power 730w

[Righteous]

So what's happening with PSU's? The 590 is power hungry, you need 2 8pin connectors I believe.

What have you got Smiss for a PSU?

The 590 would be a decent jump over what you have. CPU is negligible.

He's probably got enough RAM.

Best way to do it is for both of you to run a benchmark somehow.

Run the same settings in something you both have and let Smiss decide.

Great idea. Is there a sort of de facto standard these days?

Haha, it's possibly my defacto answer

Just makes the most sense to me.

[Righteous]

http://www.maxon.net/products/cinebench/overview.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is a good CPU benchmark.

But what I had in mind was, for example. find a game you both have (LFS?) and see what frame rates you get with identical settings.

[Duke]

Smtih, are you OC'ing that 2500K as they generally OC very well even with stock CPU air coolers???

[renesis37]

The i7 960 Nehalem based CPU is slower than a newer i5 2500K SandyBridge based CPU in everything except rendering and the odd application that could make use of HyperThreading.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/100?vs=288" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
That comparison is a 950 vs 2500K (is not that extensive but shows the general trend)

If I was Smithcorp I would overclock the 2500K to 4.4GHz on a low cost air cooler, buy some G.Skill RipJaws Z 2400C10 RAM, run it at 1866 C8 and then buy a GTX970.. You would be surprised how the higher RAM speed does help minimum frame rates / stutters. Don't believe the people that say 1333MHz is enough for games, I have proven otherwise.


As for a new norbs rendering box I would suggest the following. Rough prices from PCCG, could be slightly lower elsewhere.

$469 - Intel Core i7 5820K (Socket 2011-3, QUAD DDR4, hex core)
$375 - ASUS X99-A Motherboard
$349 - G.Skill Ripjaws 4 F4-2400C15Q-16GRB 16GB (4x4GB) DDR4
$549 - ASUS GeForce GTX 970 Strix DirectCU II 4GB (I have this, has better cooler and backplate compared to others)
$89 - Noctua NH-D14 SE2011 (good air cooler)
OR
$159 - Corsair Hydro Series H105 Liquid CPU Cooler (good AIO "water" cooler)

$1831-1901
I realise this is over budget by quite a lot but it is in the spirit of your old rig, and would be a very effective rendering / gaming box.. AND I like to spend money.

You could go a Z97 based i7/i5 from around $500 less but it isn't as nerdy
Though I have an i7 4790K overclocked to a quiet and reliable 4.5GHz on "water" and it flies

-Ben

**Also note that the GTX590 is more suited to rendering than gaming and could beat or equal the GTX970 at that task.

[r8response]

A GTX560 won't cut the mustard running new games/sims like AC etc.

My 560 has no troubles with AC.

My earlier issues with frame rates was due to the CPU overheating.

[DexterPunk]

CPU's seem to have plateaued a bit... there's been gains but they aren't massive. I would agree that a graphics card would be a better upgrade for gaming. And for overall PC pace for everyday tasks... an SSD. My housemate has basically a first gen i7, not much ram etc... and after a decent graphics card went in, it's been maxing out games. I only really rebuilt my machine recently from the ground up because i was starting to wonder when it might all fall down.

[smithcorp]

Smtih, are you OC'ing that 2500K as they generally OC very well even with stock CPU air coolers???

Nup - I did some overclocking with my previous setup, but once I got the i5 I have been reluctant to tinker with it. i was always nerous as hell when I o/c'd previously.

[Duke]

Smtih, are you OC'ing that 2500K as they generally OC very well even with stock CPU air coolers???

Nup - I did some overclocking with my previous setup, but once I got the i5 I have been reluctant to tinker with it. i was always nerous as hell when I o/c'd previously.

Oh man, the i5/i7 K's are a cinch to OC, get to it man.

[smithcorp]

You're scaring me!

[norbs]

Excellent help lads.

It is doubtful Smiss would see any real benefit, and the cash I have been offered isnt really going to buy me the upgrade needed to slash the time of renders.

As much as I get a stiffy reading your post Ben, that is just too much coin to justify. Unless they come at me with more cabbage of course.

I might just grab a better video card now and look at the rest mid next year.

[smithcorp]

If I was Smithcorp I would overclock the 2500K to 4.4GHz on a low cost air cooler, buy some G.Skill RipJaws Z 2400C10 RAM, run it at 1866 C8 and then buy a GTX970.. You would be surprised how the higher RAM speed does help minimum frame rates / stutters. Don't believe the people that say 1333MHz is enough for games, I have proven otherwise.

Does the fact I understand almost none of the words above rule me out of doing this?

[norbs]

CPU's seem to have plateaued a bit... there's been gains but they aren't massive. I would agree that a graphics card would be a better upgrade for gaming. And for overall PC pace for everyday tasks... an SSD. My housemate has basically a first gen i7, not much ram etc... and after a decent graphics card went in, it's been maxing out games. I only really rebuilt my machine recently from the ground up because i was starting to wonder when it might all fall down.

What games Dex? No way I can max out AC on my machine, but maybe my video card is a lot down on a decent one today.

[DexterPunk]

I think it was a Radeon R270x or something to that effect. I haven't seen AC run on it, so not sure how that would go. I can max it completely on mine, but i have the r280x, with a whole new system as well. AC is a hog though, my frames aren't mind blowing, even with only one monitor.

Oh, he plays stuff like star citizen, diablo, the odd shooter etc.

[renesis37]

If I was Smithcorp I would overclock the 2500K to 4.4GHz on a low cost air cooler, buy some G.Skill RipJaws Z 2400C10 RAM, run it at 1866 C8 and then buy a GTX970.. You would be surprised how the higher RAM speed does help minimum frame rates / stutters. Don't believe the people that say 1333MHz is enough for games, I have proven otherwise.

Does the fact I understand almost none of the words above rule me out of doing this?

Sorry Smithcorp..... I saw the word nerd and got excited.

Get a GTX 760 or wait for a GTX 960 and you will be sweet, I agree newer CPU's arent much over a 2500K

[renesis37]

Excellent help lads.

It is doubtful Smiss would see any real benefit, and the cash I have been offered isnt really going to buy me the upgrade needed to slash the time of renders.

As much as I get a stiffy reading your post Ben, that is just too much coin to justify. Unless they come at me with more cabbage of course.

I might just grab a better video card now and look at the rest mid next year.

Here is my recommendation for close to budget.
$399 - Intel Core i7 4790K
$215 - ASUS Maximus VII Ranger Motherboard
$225 - G.Skill Trident X F3-2400C10D-16GTX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3
$429 - Galax GeForce GTX 970 4GB (Not a fan of cheap reference versions :P)
=$1268

[Santaria]

Smtih, are you OC'ing that 2500K as they generally OC very well even with stock CPU air coolers???

No. DO not do this! The stock air coolers do fuck all and you'll risk the CPU easily.

I'm with Duke though, upgrade your GPU Smithy and it'll be good. I run an i5-2500k with a GTX760 and 8gb RAM and it cruises along very well in Assetto Corsa and any other game I've thrown at it. I play mostly high to max settings in most games (obviously they vary game to game).

[norbs]

ASUS GeForce GTX 970 Strix DirectCU II 4GB on its way. $539 at MWave and forgot I had $119 credit there. Score

Thanks for all the help. Will run some benchmarks on the old and new card once I have it.

[smithcorp]

Thanks for all the info chaps - looks like I'll be sticking with what I've got, but I've got a useful upgrade path for next year!